There Might Be Rivers of Blood

"Anshi, tell me, what is wrong with granting rewards to the ministers?"

"I do not understand why the Grand Commandant would object."

As Cao Mao spoke, he looked at Sima Wang before him.

"What do you think, Zichu?"

Sima Wang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, rewards must be fair. How can men be rewarded without merit?"

"Besides, if Your Majesty grants titles to all the ministers, the Imperial Court will have to spend money supporting them, while its tax revenues will shrink. If the Imperial Court has no money, how can it relieve the people? How can it govern the realm?"

"That is why my father was unwilling to accept."

Understanding dawned on Cao Mao.

"So that is it!"

He excitedly took Sima Wang's hand. "Zichu, you truly are a worthy talent! With Anshi and Zichu at my side, what could I possibly have to worry about?"

Sima Yan did not care. He merely grinned foolishly and began eating the delicacies before him.

Sima Wang, however, grew even more uneasy.

Looking at the four eunuch attendants staring fixedly at him from a distance, Sima Yan suddenly felt irritated. He swept his hand outward. "What are you lingering here for? All of you, get out!"

"A pack of filthy castrated wretches, spoiling our pleasure!"

The men immediately jumped in fright.

Cao Mao tried to dissuade him. "Why must you curse them? Anshi, you must not behave like this."

Sima Yan curled his lip and glared at them again. They dared not linger and hurried outside.

Only after returning to Luoyang had Sima Yan begun showing his true self.

He was no longer as restrained as he had been in Yuan City.

"Father said I could not keep idling about like this. He told me to follow Lord Pei, the Commandant of Justice, and learn proper principles from him."

"The man is only a little over ten years older than me. What could I possibly learn from him?"

Sima Yan had plenty of troubles of his own.

Probably because of Cao Mao, Sima Zhao had discovered his son's many shortcomings ahead of time and decided to make him study and improve.

The man Sima Zhao had chosen for Sima Yan was the young Commandant of Justice, Pei Xiu.

Pei Xiu was the grandson of Pei Mao, the Han Director of the Secretariat, and the son of Pei Qian, Wei's Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.

He, too, had made a name for himself at a young age. Later, Grand General Cao Shuang recruited him as an Administrative Clerk, only for him to be dismissed through guilt by association.

Sima Zhao had discovered this outstanding young man, pardoned his offenses, granted him office and rank, and held him in great esteem.

Pei Xiu was one of the few capable men who could actually get things done. In the future, he would even become Sima Yan's Director of the Secretariat.

Since the late Eastern Han, the Director of the Secretariat had been the Imperial Court's true administrator, the person who actually did the work.

The realm's policies came from the Secretariat, while the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers were more like empty fixtures. Sima Shi's current assumption of the post of Director of the Secretariat was the best proof of that.

Looking at the troubled young Sima Yan, Cao Mao smiled and reassured him. "Anshi, do you mean Pei Jiyan? I have heard that both the General and the Grand General appreciate him greatly and believe he has the makings of one of the Three Excellencies. You ought to study diligently under him rather than complain."

"Hah, Your Majesty does not know. When I first went to see him, he actually stripped off his clothes and ran wildly around his residence..."

Cao Mao froze. "Powder-Walking?"

Those symptoms instantly reminded him of an old acquaintance.

Sima Yan nodded and said disdainfully, "What could I learn from someone like that? How to take powder?"

Cao Mao stroked his chin. Come to think of it, why did everyone who served as Cao Shuang's personal retainer have a taste for that stuff?

Could Cao Shuang have led the way in taking powder? Had he addled his brain with it when he surrendered to Sima Yi?

At the thought of that old acquaintance, Cao Mao's expression grew more solemn. He asked quietly, "Anshi, do you know how Lord Guo and Lord Yang are faring?"

Sima Yan raised his head. "Of course. Lord Yang is in Luoyang now, serving as my father's Military Adviser."

"I heard Lord Guo was sent out to serve as a county magistrate, though I do not know which county."

Cao Mao's eyes widened. "What???"

This was rather different from what Cao Mao had imagined.

Yang Zong had already come to Luoyang? And become Sima Zhao's Military Adviser?

Advising the General Who Conquers the West on military affairs was treatment reserved for a Trusted Aide.

Sima Zhao truly had his strengths. He could entrust such responsibility even to a man who might have helped the emperor!

Guo Ze's situation was even more unexpected. Cao Mao had thought Sima Shi would keep him close or imprison him, yet he had actually become a county magistrate.

Sima Yan continued, "Are you surprised too, Your Majesty? I was startled when I saw Lord Yang at our residence."

"He even asked me how you were doing!"

"I asked whether he wanted me to pass along his greetings, but he covered his face and ran away... He must have taken powder..."

Cao Mao laughed. Yang Zong probably felt unable to face him.

He asked again, "Lord Yang has always enjoyed the General's favor, but Lord Guo-did he really become a county magistrate?"

Sima Yan said firmly, "Yes! Guo Zhi personally came to my father and recommended him. Father even suggested bringing him into the Imperial Court or something, but Guo Zhi said Lord Guo's talents were insufficient for that, though more than enough to serve as a county magistrate."

"I remember it clearly. It was only a few days ago, the day after your accession, I think..."

At last, Cao Mao breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the Guo Family had listened to his words after all. To keep him on their side, they had picked Guo Ze back up rather than abandoning him completely.

Although neither man could remain at his side, Cao Mao was still delighted to learn that they were no longer suffering.

He could not resist drawing Sima Yan into another round of drinking.

Anshi would be an important channel for him to learn news from the Imperial Court in the future. With him here, Jia Chong's men did not even dare approach.

Sima Yan and Cao Mao drank themselves into a stupor, reciting poetry and appraising the notable figures of the day. They were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Only Sima Wang still wore a rigid expression, his forehead covered in sweat.

When the two men left, Cao Mao was deeply reluctant to let them go and repeatedly asked them to stay. But there was no way they could spend the night at Cao Mao's side, and Sima Yan left just as reluctantly.

Sima Wang supported him, his eyes full of helplessness.

"Uncle, why are you so distant toward His Majesty?"

Sima Yan asked drunkenly.

Sima Wang could not help grumbling inwardly, Obviously! My father is not the General Who Conquers the West!

Their family had always stood on the side of the Wei imperial house, at least outwardly. And since Sima Wang controlled the Palace Guards together with Guo Jian, he could neither grow too close to Cao Mao nor become too distant.

Keeping that distance under control was crucial.

If he grew too close, how would he get along with his own family afterward?

Would he turn his weapons against his own kin? Or abandon the reputation his father had built over decades?

This put Sima Wang in a terrible bind. He suddenly began regretting taking such a post.

It would have been better to serve in the provinces. Compared with the open struggles and hidden schemes of the Imperial Court, he preferred fighting on a battlefield with real blades and spears.

Among the Sima Family's many sons and nephews, Sima Wang was one of the more capable fighters. Historically, he had defended Yongliang and repelled Jiang Wei's attacks several times.

Before Sima Wang could answer, Sima Yan had already sunk into a drunken stupor.

Sima Wang arranged for men to escort Sima Yan home, then changed his clothes and hurried into a carriage, heading for his father's residence.

Sima Fu was frugal and generous, and had the best reputation in the entire Sima Family.

As his son, Sima Wang also enjoyed a very good reputation.

When Sima Wang arrived, Sima Fu looked deeply conflicted and was not in good spirits.

"Father!"

Sima Wang bowed in greeting to his father, then stood to one side.

"Alas, did the emperor summon you to attend him again?"

"Yes... It was Anshi and me again, eating and drinking with His Majesty."

Sima Fu's face was full of bitterness. "Why has he set his sights on you and me?"

"Your son truly does not know..."

"Alas... His Majesty is young and headstrong, and you command the Palace Palace Guards. If His Majesty does something, where will that leave you?"

Sima Wang went pale with shock. "Surely His Majesty cannot rebel inside the imperial palace?"

"Rebel?"

Sima Fu fell silent for a moment. "How could there be a Son of Heaven who rebels?"

"From now on, avoid seeing him whenever you can, and keep out of his way whenever possible. You must not be so close to him again..."

"Father, why not simply submit a memorial resigning my post and go to the frontier..."

Before Sima Wang could finish, Sima Fu interrupted him.

"You cannot do that yet... You must understand that your post was not easily obtained. The Grand General forcibly pried it from the Guo Family's jaws. If you abandon it now, the Guo Family will certainly find a way to take it back. The Grand General's word is not yet the only one that counts in the Imperial Court."

"Alas, Father, I understand."

Looking at his son before him, Sima Fu felt even more conflicted. He had thought that replacing the emperor with a younger one would allow the transition to proceed smoothly, without his having to involve himself in too many affairs, so he could remain a loyal minister in peace.

But judging by the current emperor, there was little point hoping for a peaceful transition. He feared the emperor would not rest until rivers of blood had flowed.